Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area

The Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area is a 268 square mile low lying expanse of wetlands braided with riparian habitat. It is best known as the nesting ground of the Tule white-fronted goose and is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Anchorage on the west side of Cook Inlet.

Birds: The critical habitat area provides spring and fall resting and feeding habitat for hundreds of thousands of waterfowl on their way to and from nesting grounds to the north, and during the summer is an important waterfowl nesting area itself for ducks, geese, swans, and scores of other birds. During spring, summer, and early fall, it supports the largest known concentration of Tule white-fronted geese in the world. The area's wetlands are also heavily used by cackling Canada geese, Taverner's Canada geese, lesser Canada geese, snow geese, and tundra and trumpeter swans. In the summer, the area is home to several tens of thousands of breeding ducks including pintail, mallard, green-winged teal, wigeon, shoveler, scaup, canvasback, and common eider. Shorebirds most likely to be seen in the critical habitat area include yellowlegs, snipe, godwits, whimbrels, several species of sandpipers, plovers, dunlin, and phalaropes. Sandhill cranes pass through during migration and a few pairs may stay and nest each year. Bald eagles, ravens, gulls, and passerines can also be seen in the area during spring, summer, and fall.

Mammals: The Redoubt Bay wetlands provide riparian moose winter habitat along the Big, Drift, and Kustatan rivers and the numerous streams which connect to them. Brown bears are abundant and during mid- to late summer, when the salmon are returning to spawn, can frequently be observed along intertidal drainages on the outer flats. Black bears are also abundant, but usually remain farther inland, in the mountains and foothills. Furbearers present include coyote, fox, wolf, mink, river otter, marten, muskrat, wolverine, weasel, lynx, and beaver. Harbor seals haul out at the mouths of streams and beluga whales feed on returning salmon off of the river mouths in Cook Inlet.

Fish: Five species of salmon spawn in the area's streams and lakes, although sockeye, coho, and pink salmon are the most abundant. Red salmon run up Big River from early June into August. Rainbow and Dolly Varden trout are also present.

Public Use and Access: Redoubt Bay is one of the most popular non-road accessible waterfowl hunting areas in the state. Waterfowl hunters get to the area by boat or plane and annually spend over 500 hunter-days harvesting several thousand ducks and several hundred geese. Fly-in sport fishing on Big River Lake and the Kustatan River is a popular and growing activity. A small commercial gillnet fishery is present along the shores of Redoubt Bay. Off-road use of motorized vehicles (except snow machines, boats, and the landing of aircraft) in the critical habitat area requires a special area permit (PDF file) from the Department of Fish and Game, Habitat and Restoration Division.

Wolverine Creek on Big River Lake has become a popular sport fishing and bear-viewing destination with over 9,000 people visiting in 2002. This intensive use has created unique management challenges, and the department has invited the public to help guide in the management of the site. In November 2002, ADF&G convened the Wolverine Creek Management Committee (WCMC) to develop and agree on voluntary guidelines for the area. The department hopes to work cooperatively to design and implement ways in which people and bears can co-exist in this unique environment.

For more information on Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area please refer to the Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area Management Plan (PDF file 910 K).